Colostomy tube



March 16, 1948. E 'SAUR 2,438,073

COLOSTOMY TUBE Filed Feb. 8, 1946 Patented Mar. 16, 1948 I ZED STATES TENT OFFICE 3 Claims. I

The present invention relates to improvements in surgical appliances and more particularly to a colostomy appliance.

In the treatment of affections and derangements in the intestinal tract of the human anatomy, it is often found that the colon and kindred organs thereof fail to function properly. This has led to the employment of so-called colostomy tubes and devices for attachment re=- movably to the abdomen of the human body, where a colostomy shunts the course of evacuation of excrement so that same may be discharged into and through the colostomy tube. The present invention has for its main purpose to provide a more efficient and effectually sanitary apparatus of this character.

One of the objects of the invention is o p vide a simple, efficient and inexpensive colostomy tube so shaped, arranged and functioning that at all times inspection may be had of the interior thereof and of the colostomy, and wherein the desirable characteristics of automatic flushing of the discharges into the colostomy tube and automatic irrigation of the colostomy may be subserved.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improvement in the means commonly em ployed for bloating the colostomy to discharge the excrement therefrom into the tube voluntarily, by virtue of which it receives and holds the water conducting hose directly opposite the inlet end of the tube for more conveniently and effectively performing the irrigating function.

A still further object thereof is to provide means for sealing the top and bottom apertures of the colostomy tube when discharges occur therein, to provide an odorless accessory.

Another object thereof is to provide an unrestricted. water course between a water faucet and the abdomen engaging part of the device to provide a self-cleaning instrument.

A further object thereof is to provide an improved means for attaching the device to the human body.

Another object of the invention is to so juxtapose the enema and irrigation Water conducting means of the apparatus in the present invention that, in event of involuntary elimination during catheterization of the colostomy the excrement will be discharged and received into the tube in a thoroughly sanitary manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a positionable relationship between the in rigating means and enema catheterization means thereof whereby a line of Water flow in one diproceed in a downward course therethrough.

A further object thereof is to provide a rigid tube in the inlet end of the tube which receives and supports an irrigating hose in such a manner that it may extend out of and in advance of the inlet end for catheterization of the colostomy, and also that its outer end projects outside of the tube. To prevent escape of objectionable odors from inside of the tube out of this project-. ing end of the hose supporting; tube, means are provided for closing releasedly the inner end thereof automatically as soon as the, hose is Withdrawn from this tube.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the combination, arrange.- ment and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specifications, and then more par.- ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fi ure 1 is an elevation of my invention applied in use.

Figure 2 is a fragmental sectional detail view Of the elbow entrance portion of the colostomy tube.

Figure 3 is a view of Figure 2 taken at right angles thereto.

Figure 4 is a fragmental detail View of the inlet portion of the tube showing one of two belt attaching lugs or ears.

In the drawings which are merely illustrative of my invention the details of construction thereof are disclosed. The device is a hollow or tubular body I 53, made from a light, strong transparent material of suitable character to withstand corrosive attacks or deterioration. The main length of stem of this hollow body Ii terminates at its inlet end in a somewhat enlarged right angular elbow-shaped entrance portion l2 which is closed at its front by a flat plate [2a which is formed centrally with an integral nipple like portion l4 projecting into the entrance portion concentrically. The interior of the tube is designated l9. It will be seen from Figure 1 that the main stem ll of this tube is disposed at a definite bias with respect to the entrance portion I4 thereof, while the outermost discharge end 2| of this stem has its curve extended so it comes into the plane of the closure plate 12a of the tube. The inlet port provided by the nipple portion 14 is designated 15.

There is an annular tube l6 operatively secured or mounted peripherally so as to encircle or girdle the nipple M, which body is formed with a circular series of jet ports or holes 20 throughout its length. The annular tube does not complete a true circle but has separated ends I! and [8 which are closed between which is a flush unobstructed surface 3! for communication with the interior l9 of the colostomy tube. The water conductor pipe supplying this annular tube l6 has one stem thereof 26 attached to this tube, which is mounted inside of the colostomy tube, and another stem 21 preferably at right angles to the stem 26 which projects wholly outside of this tube and is connected directly to a water faucet. This provides a convenient water distributor for flushing the interior of the tube Ill.

There is a rigid pipe or tube 28 positioned in the elbow shaped entrance portion 12 of the device. It is so arranged therein that its outlet end 28a projects beyond the back l2b of this portion l2, while the main body portion of this rigid tube extends coaxially of this entrance portion into the interior I 9 of the tube I0, such that this main body portion terminates short of the inlet end of the tube II], at a point between the convex and concave bends of the elbow portion thereof so as to have its discharge end disposed concentrically of the nipple portion M, as shown in Figure 3.

A suitable valve is provided for releasedly closing the inner end of the rigid tube 28. This is composed of a cap 3| which has a snug fit around the reduced terminal 3la of the pipe or tube 28 so as tocompletely close this tube at its inlet end. A bell crank lever is provided having one arm thereof attached to thereby carry the cap 3|, while the other arm thereof 34 has its outer end projecting movably between a pair of lugs 36 formed directly upon the rigid tube 28. A pin 35 spans both lugs 35 to provide bearings for the lever arm 34' to swing upon to move the cap 3| to open or closed position.

In operation, the device functions as follows: A flexible catheterizing hose 3!] is connected at its inlet end to a suitable source of water supply such as a reservoir. It is then inserted into the length of the rigid tube 28 and as it is slid extended out of the inlet end of this tube it forcibly engages the cap 3| and unseats it so that the lever is swung upwardly upon its pivot pin 35, and the cap rests upon the hose 30. The hose is then drawn out through nipple portion M of tube l0 until it projects into the incision made in the abdomen of the patient for catheterizing the colostomy efiectively to flood the same and cause evacuation of excrement out of the colostomy into the tube 10, in a well known manner. Before this is done, an adjustable belt 25 is taken and its ends hooked removably and operatively onto the hook ends 23 of the cars 24 of the tube Ill. As this belt is adjusted properly about the body of the patient, it draws the closure plate l2a of the front of the tube [0 into intimate contact with the abdomen of the patient as shown in Figure l, in a fluid tight manner.

The patient sits upon the bowl seat and the colostomy tube Ill extends down between his legs so that the biased stem ll of this tube projects into the water in the bowl as indicated at C in Figure 1. It will thus be seen that an effective seal is maintained at both opposite ends of the tube I0 so that foul. odors cannot escape from the tube. The flexible fit of the hose 30 in the rigid tube 28 also assures that no odors will escape by way of this tube exteriorly of the colostomy tube. Even when this flexible hose is withdrawn or removed from this tube 28, no such foul odors can escape out of this tube and its atmosphere opening end 28a. This is due to the fact that upon removal of the hose 30 from the tube, gravity will cause the cap 3| which rested thereupon previously when the hose was inside of the tube, to move back to closing position against reduced portion 3|a of the hose 28. This promotes good sanitation as well as antiseptic qualities of the instrument.

When the catheter hose 30 conveys the irrigating water to the colostomy, from its reservoir source of' supply, and performs its function, the expelled excrement will pass into the tube into its elbow entrance portion 12, in which it will be directed downwardly through the hollow interior l9 of this tube into the toilet bowl to become submerged in the water C therein. This arrangement constitutes a self-cleaning sealed instrument brought about by turning on the faucet Water so water begins to pass through the pliable stem 21 of the hose which is connected by way of stem 26 to the water distributor tube 16. Jets of water under pressure emerge out in a circular series from the tiny hole 20 of this tube I6, which will spray the valve and catheterizing tube 28 directly in front of it and send a constant stream of flushing water down the length of the tube which will carry away in its course of flow all fecal matter deposited into the tube, preventing accumulation of any part thereof in this tube. The jet spray of flushing water acts not only to start a water flow down the tube stem I l, but to issue tiny streams of sprayed water of the tube in the zone of the rigid catheterizing tube 28 effective to dislodge all excrement. The patient can observe the action of catheterization because all parts of the tube l0 are transparent. I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction set forth herein, except as pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A colostomy irrigating device as described consisting of a transparent tubular body having an enlarged elbow end having an inlet port, a tube having its outer end projecting beyond the back of the elbow end of the tubular body and extending into the latter interiorly for supporting an inserted hose in position to emerge out of said inlet port, a cap for closing the inner end of said tube, hinge means mounting said cap on said tube, said tube closing cap becoming active upon movement of the hose in said tube, a circular water distributor means enclosing the inlet port inside of the tubular body having provision for issuing jets of water circumferentially thereof against said tube, and closing means, and down into said tubular body, and water conducting means entering the elbow end of the body and connected to said distributor means.

2. A device as described consisting of a tubular body having an elbow end closing the inlet to said body save centrally whereat it is formed with a nipple which projects concentrically into said tubular body, a sleeve extending from outside of the tubular body thereinto and having its discharge end spaced in back of the nipple, lugs formed upon said sleeve, 9. bell crank lever pivoted between and to said lugs, a cover valve carried at the outer end of said lever engaging said sleeve to effectually close the same, being openable against pressure from a water hose inserted hinge means mounting said cap on said body,

said cap being normally biased to tube closing position and movable to opening position upon insertion of said hose, and water distributor means in said tube for spraying water into said body and over said cap and tube for flushing said tube.

GEORGE E. SAUR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,154,202 Gricks Apr. 11, 1939 2,223,566 Koch Dec. 3, 1940 2,331,226 Pritchard Oct. 5, 1943 

